Finding the Light

Of late, I have been trying to reset my circadian rhythm. Doctor’s orders. And so I go to bed without a screen, a book by my bed (You can read a lot of books when you’re not on your phone.) When I wake up, the first thing I do besides let Baxter out, coffee in hand, is sit outside. First morning light, the doctor said, is important for us humans.

And it is a prescription everyone should abide. Watching the world wake up, focus goes from micro to macro. Watching the sky turn morning, my attention focuses on the dahlias that survived the winter. ALL of them! Lazy gardening DOES work out sometimes. The skinny robin that keeps getting closer. Is he brave? Or knows I’m no threat.

Since I’m already outside, I start my flower gardening early. I plant seeds and keep waiting for them to pop up. WHERE ARE THEY?! I see the compost barrel I don’t use. Maybe I should give it back to the generous friend who gave it to me. I go to pick up the base and both the snake and I are surprised. It is its home, after all. Forgive my intrusion, sir Garter snake.

Later on in the week, I’m watching from my deck and something catches my eye. Well, well well. Sir Garter is making its way through the flower beds. It’s length is enough to be mesmerizing. Short enough not to get shivers. I watch it. How does a snake’s body move? How does a line look like it’s hovering above the earth? An anecdote about scientists not knowing how snakes move comes to mind. I mean, how DO they move?! The snake wanders on and so do I. Until we meet again, I say. I’m almost cordial.

Nature is an antidote for our machine driven lives. Perhaps participation and observation with no handheld device is, in fact, magic at its truest form; time with patience.

The doctor says get outside, and get a tan, too. You’re welcome.